Tire building machine



March 8, 1949. w. J. BRETH TIRE BUILDING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed June 14, 1944 INVENTOR WALTER J. BRETH ATTORNEYS -w. J. BRETH TIRE BUILDING MACHINE March 8, 1949.

Original Filed June 14, 1944 5 Shets-Sheet 2 W%LTER J.BRETH ATTORNEYS March 8, 1949. w, J -j- 2,464,020

TIRE BUILDING MACHINE Original Filed June 14, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 I F1" .4- J lNVENTOR 9 f WALTER J. BRETH cfmM 0M1 ATTORN EYS March 8, 1949. w, BRETH 2,464,020

TIRE BUILDING MACHINE Original Filed June 14. 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR WALTER J. BRETH March' 8, w BRETH TIRE-BUILDING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR WALTER J. BR ETH Original Filed June 14,-1.944

ym/r 4 f' tiy/ ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 8, 1949 UNITED STATES TIRE BUILDING MACHiNE Walter J. Breth, Akron, Ohio, assignor to' The General Tire & Rubber Company, Akron, Ohio;- a corporation of Ohio Original application June 14', 1944, Serial No;

Divided and this' application March 9-, 1945, Serial No. 581,873

17 Claims.

This. invention relates to a tire building machine of'the drum type, the present application being, a division. of my" copending application Serial No. 540,306; filed June 14, I944, now-Pat'- ent No. 2,455,038; November 30, 1948.

This invention. has for its object to provide an improvedimeans for applying the rubber covering to fabric plies previously placed upon a drum and improved means for compacting the tire body and firmly aflixing togetherthe fabric plies and rubber cover stock.

An additional object of' the invention is to provide actuators for the stock applying and tire compacting. rollers; together with controlling means by: which the" rollers maybe'brought into engaging position in' the proper sequence and applied with the proper pressures."

Aifurther object of the invention is to provide means: for' compacting the tire body and for simultaneously, stitching the edge portions of the outer-layers of tire fabric-to: the eX-teri'orr of the tire beads:

With the =above=and other objects in view, the invention may besaid to comprise 'thetire build ing machine as illustrated in the accompanying drawings hereinafter. describedv and" particularly set'forth in theappended claims, togetherwith such variations and modifications thereofas will be apparent to one .skilled-in the art DO-Which theinvention pertains.-

Reference, shouldbe had. to the accompanying drawings forming apart of this specification: in which:

Fig., lis alfragmentary, front elevation of a tire building machine embodying the-invention, showing the tire building drum together withthe stationary and movable bead b'uildingheads associated therewith;

Fig, 2 is a vertical transversesection throughthe machine taken on the line indicated at 2-2' to the .interior.portion;of theitire previously.

formed on the drum;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic end .elevati'on showing the pressure and "stitching rollers engaging the rubber-cover stock'and the external fabric plies;

Fig. 5 is 'a section taken on the 'line indicated at 55 inuFig. 4,. showingth'e main pressure rollers engaging the rubber cover stocky Fig. '6-is "a transverse section through one of the deformable pressure rollers taken on'the line indicated at 66 in Fig. 5;'

Fig; 7*isa iragmentary sectio'n takenon' the line indicated at 1 -1 in Fig. 4 showing .the tread shaping rollers in engagement with'the shoulders ofjthe tread 'portion' of the tire;

Figs-8 is a fragmentalryplan .view of the bead (or. 154-9) {A stitching rollers viewed as indicated at 88 in Fig.4;

Fig. Q is asection taken on the line indicated at 9-9 in Fig. 4 showingtheqbead stitching rollers engaging the external fabric plies overlying. the'bead rings, and

Fig. 10 is a combined wiring and fluid pressure diagram showing the means by which the Various operations performed by the machine are controlled.

The-present invention is showri' embodied in a' tire building machine that consists of a centlally." disposed, collapsible tire'buildirig drum A which is rotated'while' certain of the tire buildin operations are beii'igper'fQrmed and held stationary during the performanc'e'of other tire building operations and which may be of the usual: and conventional construction. together with aFstatiOnai'y bea'dbuilding head B and a movablebeadbuilding head" C which serve to apply bead" rings to fabric at the ends of the drum=and to shape the bead portions of the tire while the drum is stationary, the arrangement being similar a that disclosed in 'my' Patem 2,313,035-grantdMarch 9, 1943.

The machine ofthe" present" invention is meunted u'pon an elongated base I, upon" which the head- Band the drum A are mounted in fixed positions; an'd uponwhich the head C is slidably supported'for movementaxially toward and away from the-drum nj The actuating and control mechanism of the" head Bismounted within a housing-*2 having vertical innerand outer and side walls.- The drum'A; which is composed of collapsiblesegments; is supported on a'shaft 3 and asleeve 4 on the shaft 3; the segments of the'drumbeing' connected by suitable links to the sleeve and shaft'so as to -be expanded or coll'aps'edby relativerotary movements'of the. sleeve and shaft; Since this construction is conventional for tirebuilding drums, the linkage is not herein illustrated; Y

The-supporting shaft 3 is mounted in bearings 5 'and B in the inner and outerwalls of the housmg and has interfitti'ng engagement with an axiallyali'gned Shalffi 'l 'Ollth IIlOVaLbl head AC. The shaft'S isdriven' by an electric motor 8 mountedon the base I, the shaft 3 being 'con necte'd'to the motor"8through sprocket chains l 0 "and i l and an "interposed reduction gearing in""a housing [2," the reduction gearing being driven by the motor through the chain 10 and the shaft 3 being driven from the reduction gearingthe drum; an air =brake= l3 =is' -connected' by-a sprocket chain- 14 to the sleeve 4. Upon app1ica tionof the-brake- |3,the--S1G6V 4 is held'agains't' rotation; whereupon-continuedrotation of shaft 3 3 in one direction or the other will expand or collapse the drum.

A transverse actuating shaft I5 is journaled in the side walls of the housing 2, and this shaft has a worm wheel I6 attached thereto that meshes with a worm I1 on a longitudinal shaft I8 journaled in the inner and outer walls of the housing. The moving parts of the bead building head are actuated by the shaft I5, which is driven by an electric motor I9 through reduction gearing in a housing 20 and a sprocket chain 2I extending to the shaft I8.

The moving parts of the bead building head B are actuated by the shaft I5 and it is desirable that the rotation of this shaft be stopped upon excessive resistance to movement of any of these parts. The shaft IB is, therefore, driven through a slip clutch 22 interposed between the sprocket chain 2| and the shaft I5. The shaft I8 preferably projects through the outer wall of the housing 2 and has a squared end 23 adapted to receive a hand crank by which the shaft may be turned manually to adjust the moving parts when desired.

During operation of the machine the drum A is rotated by means of the motor 8 under the control of the operator for the application of layers of fabric and rubber thereto and during the compacting and stitching operations while the bead building heads B and C are held in retracted positions.

After the bead rings have been built into the tire carcass fabric, the bead building mechanisms are stopped with their retracted positions clear of the drum and external plies of fabric and rubber are applied to the fabric previously placed on the drum.

The external fabric plies are built up upon the the inner fabric plies in the usual manner by rotating the drum and winding the strips of fabric forming the successive plies upon the drum. The fabric plies as shown in Fig. 3 comprise a suitable number of full width plies a, a breaker strip 1) and chaffer strips 0. The external rubber covering of the tire is formed by a strip of rubber stock G that has a thickened tread portion m provided with a concave face n and inclined shoulder portions p, together with side wall covering portions r that gradually decrease in thickness toward the edges of the strip.

As shown in Fig. 2, a strip of rubber stock G that is cut to the proper length to form the covering of the tire is fed to the tire building drum from a suitable support such as a table I28 mounted at the front of the machine. Viewed as in Fig. 2, the drum A is rotated in a clockwise direction and the strip G passes from the table I 28 to the under side of the drum A where it is engaged by a set of compression rollers which as shown in Fig. 5, comprise two deformable end rollers I2I and a center roller I22 that has a transversely convex periphery, the deformable rollers I2I engaging the side wall portions r of the rubber covering and the convex center roller engaging :he concave face 12 of the thickened tread porion.

Rearwardly of the pressure rollers, stitching rollers I 23, I24 and I 25 are provided at each end of the drum that serve to press the edge portions of the strip G and of the fabric plies against the inner layers of fabric adjacent the beads, and to fold the fabric inwardly against the outer faces of the beads. To the rear of the stitching rollers there is a pair of shoulder engaging pressure 4 rollers I 26, adapted to engage the tread shoulder portions :0.

The pressure rollers I 2| and I22 are mounted upon a transverse shaft I21 and each of the deformable rollers I2I has a yieldable periphery formed by a series of annular disks I28 that are mounted side by side for relative radial movements throughout the length of the roller. The annular disks I28 are mounted upon a soft rubber core I29 of star shape that has projecting tips I30 upon which the annular disks I28 are seated. The disks I28 are confined between end plates I3I which engage the ends of a cylindrical sleeve I32, upon which the rubber core I29 is mounted. The transversely convex periphery of the roller I22 fits the concave face n of the tire tread, and the periphery of this roller has closely spaced V-shaped ribs I33 formed between closely spaced V-shaped circumferential grooves in the periphery of the roller. The rollers I2I and I22 are rotatably mounted upon the shaft I21, and are turned during operation by frictional engagement with the stock on the tire building drum.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the shaft I21 is supported upon the outer ends of a pair of arms I 34, that are keyed at their inner ends to a shaft i353, which is non-rotatably secured at its ends to the outer ends of arms I36 that are pivoted at their inner ends to a horizontal shaft I37, journaled in posts I38 mounted on the base I rearwardly of the drum. The arms H34 and I36, together with the shafts I21 and I35 form a rigid supporting frame that swings vertically about the horizontal shaft I31 to move the pressure rollers I2! and I22 into and out of engagement with stock on the tire building drum.

Immediately to the rear of the pressure rollers I2 I and I 22, the arms I34 are connected by a rigid cross bar I39, the bottom face of which contacts with a roller I48 on the upper end of a plunger I4I that operates in a vertically disposed cylinder I42 mounted on the base i. The cylinder I42 is adapted to receive air under pressure to force the plunger I III upwardly to enage the rollers I2I and I 22 with material on the drum A, and to maintain a pressure upon these rollers. The inclination of the bottom face of the bar I39 is such that this face is substantially horizontal when the rolls are brought into engagement with the stock being fed to the tire building drum, so that pressure may be effectively applied to the roller by the plunger I85. It will be noted that the rollers I2l are disposed forwardly of the central vertical plane of the drum, so that pressure of these rollers against the incoming strip G maintains a tension on the strip as it is applied to the drum. Shrinkage of the cover stock during storage prior to use shortens the strip and thickens the tread forming portions thereof, so that it is diflicult to properly adhere the side Wall covering portions to the fabric and difficult to properly splice the ends of the strip together. By properly regulating the tension exerted on the strip by the roller I22 during its application to the fabric on the drum, the strip G may be caused to be uniformly adhered to the underlying fabric throughout the width and circumference of the tire, and the, I stock may be stretched exactly to the extent necessary to obtain the proper engagement of the skived ends of the strip.

As shown in Figs. 4, 8 and 9, the stitching rollers I23, I24 and I25 have toothed flanges I43, which engage with the outer plies of fabric along the shoulders of the drum. Each of the rollers I23, I24 and I25 is mounted upon a threaded shaft I44 that is screwed into a supportin spider that has three integral arms I45, Hit and I41. As shown in Fig. 8, the roller $23 is mounted at the outer end of the arm I45, the roller 24 is mounted at the juncture of the three arms M5, I46 and I47 and the roller i 35 is mounted at the outer end of the arm 46. The shafts 24 5 are secured in adjusted positions by means of nuts I48 on the shafts I44 that screw into engagement with the supporting spider and the lower end of the arm I47 of the spider is pivotally mounted on a horizontal supporting shaft I49. The pivotal movement of the arm M? on the shaft I49 is limited by a pair of stops i513 carried by a collar I5I fixed to the shaft I45; and positioned in the path of the arm ml. The shaft I49 is carried by the outer ends of lever arms I52 that are pivoted intermediate their ends to the shaft I31 and the upper end of a plunger I53 is also pivotally connected to the shaft I49, the plunger I53 being mounted in a fluid pressure cylinder I54 connected to the base I by a horizontal pivot I55. By means of the cylinder I54, the stitching rollers may be moved upwardly into engaging position and pressed against the shoulder of the drum. Pivotal movements of the arm I47 permit the stitching rollers to adjust themselves to the drum and equalize the pressure of the rollers against the drum. The arm I47 is normally yieldingly held in engagement with the rear stop I50 by a coil sprin I56 that is connected at one end to the outer end of the arm I46 and at the other end to an arm I51 attached to the collar I5I. The rear stop I5!) is so positioned that the spring 15$ holds the roller supporting spider in a position such that the roller i223 is first engaged with the stock on the drum when the shaft Mil is elevated so that pressure on the roller I23 rocks the rollers I 24 and i25 into engaging position. The stops I 50 are so positioned that the arm I i? is substantially midway between the stops during engagement with the fabric on the drum, so that the roller support is free to rock in either direction to equalize the pressure on the rollers. As shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the front roller E23 has a shoulder portion 558 that bears against the edge of the rubber cover strip G inwardly of its flange I43. The intermediate roller 124 is offset axially outwardly with respect to the roller 23 and its flange engages the outer chaifer strip and presses the same radially inwardly against the head, while the roller I25 is offset axially outwardly with respect to the roller H4 and positioned with its axis at an inclination to the drum axis and with its flange 43 pressing against the outer face of the tire bead. The teeth of the stitcher rollers engage the fabric at closely spaced points and cause the disks to turn with a peripheral speed equal to that of the fabric surface that is engaged, thereby avoiding slippage and wiping action that would tend to wrinkle the fabric.

As shown in Fig. 7 the rollers I25 are of conical form so that their peripheries conform to the inclined tread shoulders p which were not engaged by the rollers iii and i22. Both rollers I 26 are slidably mounted upon a horizontal shaft I59 that is mounted on the lower ends of lever arms I60 pivoted intermediate their ends to a shaft IGI extending between the upper ends of the posts I38. The lever arm 5% are operated to move the rollers i25 into engagement with stock on the tire building drum by means of chains IE2 extending over toothed segments I63 at the upper ends of the arms I60 and attached to the same adjacent their lower ends by pins I64. The opposite ends of the chains I62 are attached to the rear ends of the lever arms I 52 so that the rollers 26 as well as the rollers I23, I24 and F25 are moved toward the drum by means of the fluid pressure cylinder I54. When the plunger its is actuated, the forward end of the lever I52 is moved upwardly and carries the stitching rollers I23, I24 and H5 into engaging position. At the same time the rear end of the lever 52 moves downwardly, exerting a pull on the chain I62 that swings the lever I forwardly and upwardly to press the rollers I26 into engagement with the tread portion of the tire on the drum. As shown in Fig. 7, the rollers I26 are mounted on ball bearings Hi5. which have inner races 65, slidable on the shaft Hit. The inward movement of the rollers I26 is limited by stops I67 secured to the shaft l59 and the rollers are yieldingly pressed toward the stops I51 by coil springs I58 that are interposed between collars E69 attached to shaft 59 and disks Ill] that are slidable upon the shaft and in engagement with the races Ifiii. During operation a yielding inward pressure is applied by the springs I to the rollers iZd, so as to hold the rollers inengagement with the inclined portions p of the tire tread, the springs permitting the rollers I26 to accommodate themselves to treads of varying widths.

In applying the cover stock G to the fabric on the drum only the pressure rolls I2! and I22 are engaged with the stock, the delivery of pressure to the cylinders I42 and I54 being so controlled that the rolls I2i and I22 only are pressed against the stock. When the drum has nearly completed its revolution and the attached end of the stock is approaching the pressure rollers, the drum is stopped and then turned in a reverse direction until the ends to be spliced are brought up to a convenient position for .the operator to manually join the ends together. When starting with a new batch of cover stock the drum may be intermittently actuated toward the end of its rotation to slow down the operation suiiiciently to enable the operator to regulate the pressure applied to the cylinder I42 in such manner as to impart the stretch necessary to cause the skived ends of the stock to come together in the proper abutting relation.

After the application of the cover stock to the fabric on the drum the stitching rollers I23, I24 and I25 and the shoulder engaging pressure rollers I28 are pressed against the stock on the drum while the drum is being rotated through three or four revolutions. The pressure rollers I2I, I22 and I26 press the rubber cover stock against the outer ply of fabric and press the fabric plies together to cause the plies of fabric and the cover stock to firmly adhere. At the same time the stitching rollers I23, I24 and I25 press the fabric plies against the outer faces of the beads and against the underlying fabric plies outwardly of the beads.

As shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, treadles 23I and 232 are provided on the base I in front of the drum for controlling the rotation of the drum, the motor being operated in one direction while one treadle is depressed and in the reverse direction when the other treadle is depressed. In applying the layers of fabric to the tire drum, the drum is rotated in the direction to carry the fabric over the top of the drum, while in applying the tread stock the drum is rotated in the opposite direction to carry the stock around the bottom of the drum.

As shown diagrammatically in Fig. 10, stop lugs 238 on the shaft I engage with a limit switch 239 to stop the actuating motor I9 of the head B and a similar switch 239a stops the operating motor I9a of the head C, one of the lugs 238 and its corresponding lug 238a being so positioned as to stop the motors I9 and I9a with the mechanisms of the two heads clear of the drum A for the application of the outer layers of fabric and rubber to the tire carcass.

The diagram in Fig. 10 shows diagrammatically the fluid pressure system for actuating the cylinders IOI and IOIa that apply pressure to the interiors of the beads at one stage of the tire building operation, for actuating the cylinders I54 and I42 that apply pressure to the pressure rollers, and for actuating the brake I3 that holds the sleeve 4 to cause the drum to be collapsed or expanded. This view also shows the electrical circuits controlling the fluid pressure valves and the operating motors on both the stationary and movable heads. Parts on the movable head which correspond to parts on the stationary head are designated by the same reference numerals, with the letter a added.

Air under pressure for the fluid pressure devices above referred to, is supplied from a suitable reservoir 244 through a pipe line 245 that communicates with valves 246 and 246a, that control the delivery of pressure to the opposite ends of the cylinders IIlI and Na. Springs 241 and 241a normally hold the valves 246 and 246a in position to apply pressure to hold the plungers I00 and IIlOa retracted, the valves being operated to reverse the pressure in the cylinders IOI and IOIa by means of solenoids 248 and 2480;. The line 245 also communicates with a valve 249 that controls the admission of pressure to the brake I3. A spring 250 normally holds the valve 249 in closed position and a solenoid l is adapted to open the valve in opposition to the spring,

The pressure line 245 is connected to the upper end of the cylinder I54 through a pipe line 252 that has two pressure reducing valves 253 and 254 that may be adjusted to regulate the pressure delivered to the upper end of the cyllnder I54 and to regulate the pressure in the portion of the line 252 between the two valves. The operation of the cylinders I42 and I54 is under the control of a regulating valve 255 of the spool type that controls the admission of fluid under pressure to the lower ends of the cylinders. The lower end portion of the valve 255 is connected to the pressure line 245 by a pipe line 256 and the upper end portion of the valve is connected to the pipe line 252 between the two pressure reducing valves 253 and 254 by a pipe line 251. A pipe line 258 is connected with the central portion of the valve and has branches 259 and 260 connected to the valve 255 at points spaced above and below the center thereof, below the connection of the pipe line 251 and above the connection of the pipe line 256 to the valve. Delivery of pressure to the lower ends of the cylinders I42 and I54 from the pipe 258 may be controlled by manually adjustable regulating valves 26I and 262 controlling the flow of fluid from the pipe 258 to the cylinders I42 and I54, which may be set to adjust the rate of delivery of fluid to the cylinders and the rate of movement of the plungers. The regulating valve 255 has a mov- CPI - lines, the ports to which the pipe lines 256 and 251 lead are closed, and the pipe line 258 leading to the lower ends of the cylinders I54 and I42 is connected to atmosphere through a central exhaust port 269. In the uppermost position of the lever 268 the pipe line 251 is connected to the pipe line 258 through the branch 259. In the lowermost position of the lever 268 the pipe line 256 is connected to the pipe 258 through the branch 260.

The pressure delivered to the upper end of the cylinder I54 is reduced by the valves 253 and 254 and is lower than the pressure delivered to its lower end through the valve 255, the pressure actually applied by the cylinder I54 to the pressure rollers being the difierence between the pressure applied to the lower end of the cylinder and the pressure applied to the upper end thereof. When the lever 268 is shifted upwardly from its neutral position, the pressure in the portion of the pipe line 252 between the reducing valves 253 and 254 is delivered to the lower ends of the cylinders I42 and I54. When the lever 268 is moved downwardly from its neutral position, full pressure from the line 245 is delivered to the lower ends of both cylinders I42 and I54. By moving the lever I58 up or down from its neutral position a relatively low or a relatively high pressure may be supplied to the cylinders I42 and I54. For example, the pressure in line 245 may be at one hundred pounds, the valve 253 may reduce the pressure to fifty pounds, and the second reducing valve 254 may reduce the pressure to thirty pounds, which pressure is applied continuously to the top of the plunger in the cylinder I54. When the lever 263 is moved to its uppermost position, fifty pound pressure will be delivered to the ends of both cylinders I42 and I 54. When the lever 268 is moved downwardly the full pressure of one hundred pounds will be delivered to the two cylinders. With the fifty pound pressure the effective pressure of the cylinder I54 would be twenty pounds and with the one hundred pound pressure the effective pressure of the cylinder I54 would be seventy pounds. It will be understood that the valves 253 and 254 may be adjusted to vary the pressures delivered to the upper end of the cylinder I54 and to the lower ends of the cylinders I42 and I54, so that the desired variations in the applied pressure may be obtained.

By means of the controlling valve 255 a relatively low pressure may be applied to the pressure rollers while the cover stock is being wound onto the drum and a heavier pressure is applied during rotation of the drum after the ends of the cover stock have been spliced together, a lower pressure being applied to the stitching and tread shoulder forming rollers through the cylinder I54 than to the main pressure rollers through the cylinder I42.

One terminal of each of the treadle switches 23I and 232 is connected by a wire 21!] to a power line a:. The second terminal of the forward switch 23l is connected by a wire 21I to a control solenoid 212 by which the motor 8 may be caused to rotate in one direction. A wire 213 connects the second terminal of the reverse Switch 232 to a control solenoid 214 by which the motor 3 may be caused to rotate in areverse direction. The terminals of the solenoids 272 and 2'14 opposite those connected to the wires 2'11 and 213, are connected by a wire 2'15 and the wire 215 is connected to a power line 31 by a wire 216.

Energize-tion of the solenoid 2'i2 closes four normally open switches 2'57, 273, 279 and Wires 291 and 282 connect the armature of the motor 8 to switches 2'1! and 219 which are con nected by wires 216 and 293 to lines 3! and x. Wires 284 and 285 connect the switches 219 and 280 to opposite terminals of a field winding 389. The switch 219 is connected to line 1 through the wires 2'15 and 216 and the switch 283 is connected to line a: through the wire 283.

The reverse solenoid 2'34, when energized closes four normally open switches, 281, 288, 239 and 290. The switch 231 is connected through the wire 281 to the motor armature and through the wires 2'15 and 215 to the line The switch is connected through the wire 282 to the motor armature and through a wire 29! and the wire 283 to the line x. The switches 239 and 299 are connected to the terminals of the field winding 286 through the wires 284 and 285, the switch 289 being connected to line y through the wires 2'15 and 216, while switch 299 is connected to line a: through the wires 291 and 283. The line connection of the switches 28? and 283 is the reverse of the switches 2'11 and 213 so that the flow through the armature of the motor 3 caused by the actuation of solenoid 2'14 is reverse to the flow due to the energization of the solenoid 272, so that the motor 8 is driven in one direction upon actuation of the switch 23! and in the opposite direction upon actuation of switch A wire 293 connects the wire 291 to the solenoid 251 which is connected by a wire 294 to the switch 243 controlled by the shaft 15, which is connected to the line 1 by a wire 295. When the actuating shaft 15 is in the position which it occupies when stopped after completion of the tire building operation, the switch is in a closed position, so that the air brake i3 is applied and the drum A may be collapsed or expanded by rotation of the motor 8 in a forward or a reverse direction. A wire 295 is connected to the power line a: through the wire 2'10 and to one terminal of each of the two switches 233 and 23 2. The opposite terminals of the switches and 23 3 are connected by wires 391 and 293a to solenoids 298 and 298a Solenoid 299 operates normally open switches 299 and 399 and solenoid 29% operates similar switches 299a and 369m. The switches 299 and 300 are connected to opposite terminals of the motor 19 and through wires 301 and 302 to the lines a: and y the solenoid being also connected to the line y through the wire 392. The switches 299a and 300a are similarly connected to the motor 19a and to the iines :c and y. Switch 239, which is the limit switch which controls the stopping of the motor i is immediately closed when the motor i9 is started. To maintain the circuit through the solenoid 293, the switch 239 when closed establishes a connection from the line :r through wire 301, solenoid 298 and wire 392 to line 3:.

Wires 304 and 304a connect the switches 242 and 242a to solenoids 248 and 248a that control the valves 243 and 24611 through which pressure is admitted to the cylinders 101 and 10141. Upon closure of the switches 242 and 242a the current delivered to the solenoids 248 and 248a passes from 10 the l ne at through the wire 2'10, solenoids 248, 248a, wires 304 and 304a, switches 242 and 242a and wires 295 and 295a to the line y.

A motor 305 is provided for shifting the movable head C to a position permitting removal of a finished tire from the drum and back to operative position, and this motor drives a shaft 306 having a crank 30? that is connected to the carriage through a rod 308, so that the carriage is moved outwardly and inwardly by a complete revolution of the shaft 306. The operation of the motor 305 is controlled by a switch 309 which is opened and closed by the shaft 15a of the movable head. The switch 309 is connected to the power line :1: through a wire 310, a switch 311 and a wire 312 and to a motor control solenoid 314 through a wire 313. The opposite terminal of the solenoid 3M is connected to the power line through a wire 315. The solenoid 314 when energized closes two normally open switches 316 and 3 11 connected by wires 318 and 319 to terminals of the motor 305 and by wires 320 and 315 to power lines a: and y. The carriage C carries a stop 322 that is engageable with the switch 311 at the outward limit of movement of the carriage, to open the switch 311 and stop the motor 305.

A second control switch 323 operated by the shaft 15a is connected through a wire 324, a limit switch 325 and wire 326 to the line a: and through a wire 321 to solenoid 314 which is connected to the line 1/ through the wire 315. The switch 323 controls the return movement of the carriage and the carriage is provided with a second stop 328 that engages with the limit switch 325 to break the motor circuit upon completion of the return movement of the carriage. The lugs operating the switches 309 and 323 are so positioned on the shaft 15a that the switch 309 is closed, and the carriage C is automatically retracted on the completion of the rotation of the shaft 15a and the switch 323 is closed to return the carriage to operative position immediately the motor 19a is started to begin the new cycle of operations.

After the bead rings have been built into the inner plies of fabric on the drum shoulders the outer plies of fabric together with the breaker and chaffer strips are applied in the conventional manner as the drum is turned in a forward direction under the control of the treadle 231. After the fabric has been applied the rubber cover or tread stock is applied by turning the drum rearwardly under the control of the treadle 232 and applying low pressure to the rollers 121 and 1 22 by shifting the control lever 268 to low pressure position. The drum is stopped by releasing the treadle 232 just before the end of the stock reaches the rollers 121 and 123 and the drum is backed up a short distance by momentarily depressing the treadle 231 The adjoining ends of the rubber stock are joined together manually and the lever 268 is shifted to high pressure position to cause the pressure rollers 121 and 122 to be pressed with high pressure against the rubber stock and to cause the stitching rollers 123, 124 and 125 and the shoulder pressing rollers 126 to be pressed with somewhat less pressure against the fabric and rubber during three or more revolutions of the drum to firmly stitch the rubber and fabr c lies together and to fold the fabric plies inwardly against the exterior of the bead.

The flow regulating valve 262 is so adjusted that the movement of the plunger 153 is so slow when low pressure is applied that the rollers 123, 124, 125 and 126 are not brought into engagement with the stock on the drum during the application of the rubber cover stock G to the fabric. However, when the lever 268 is shifted to the high pressure position the rollers I23, I24, I and I26 are quickly brought to engaging position.

After the drum has been rotated three or four times with the pressure and stitching rollers pressed against the drum, the drum is stopped by releasing the treadle 232 after which the flnal operation is performed on the tire by the bead building heads.

It is to be understood that the machine herein shown in detail may be varied greatly Without departing from the invention herein described and claimed.

What I claim is:

1. In combination with a tire building drum, a set of pressure applying rollers comprising a rigid tread engaging roller having a transversely convex periphery and flexible deformable rollers positioned on opposite sides of the tread engaging roller, tread shoulder engaging rollers spaced circumferentially from the pressure rollers and having conical shoulder engaging peripheries, stitching rollers mounted to engage with stock on the ends of the drum intermediate said pressure applying rolls and tread shoulder engaging rollers, and means for simultaneously yieldably pressing said rollers against stock on the drum.

2. In combination with a tire building drum, a set of pressure applying rollers comprising a rigid tread engaging roller having a transversely convex periphery and flexible deformable rollers positioned on opposite sides of the tread engaging roller, tread shoulder engaging rollers spaced circumferentially from the pressure rollers and having conical shoulder engaging peripheries, stitching rollers mounted to engage with stock on the ends of the drum intermediate said pressure applying rolls and tread shoulder engaging rollers, fluid pressure operated means for simultaneously pressing said rollers against stock on said drum, and means for varying the pressure applied to said rollers.

3. In combination with a tire building drum, a set of pressure applying rollers comprising a rigid tread engaging roller having a transversely convex periphery and flexible deformable rollers positioned on opposite sides of the tread engaging roller, tread shoulder engaging rollers spaced circumferentially from the pressure rollers and having conical shoulder engaging peripheries, stitching rollers mounted to engage with stock on the ends of the drum intermediate said pressure applying rolls and tread shoulder engaging rollers, a fluid pressure cylinder for exerting pressure upon said pressure applying rollers, a second fluid pressure cylinder for applying pressure to the stitching and tread shaping rollers, means for simultaneously supplying fluid under pressure to said cylinders, and means for retarding the flow of fluid pressure to one of said cylinders to delay the engagement of the rollers operated by the latter cylinder.

4. In combination with a tire building drum, pressure applying rollers engageable with stock on the drum substantially across the entire periphery thereof, stitcher rollers engageable with stock on the drum at the end of the drum and rearwardly of said pressure applying rollers, a fluid pressure cylinder for applying pressure to said pressure rollers, a fluid pressure cylinder for applying pressure to said stitching rollers, means for supplying fluid under pressure to said cylinders, and means for controlling said pressure supplying means to first apply pressure to said pressure applying rollers and subsequently to the pressure applying and stitching rollers simultaneously.

5. In combination with a tire building drum, pressure applying rollers engageable with stock on the drum substantially across the entire periphery thereof, stitcher rollers engageable with stock on the drum at the end of the drum and rearwardly of said pressure applying rollers,

means for yieldingly pressing the rollers against,

stock on the drum, means for simultaneously applying fluid under pressure to said cylinders, and means for independently varying the pressure applied to the pressure rollers and to the stitching rollers.

6. In combination with a tire building drum, pressure applying rollers engageable with stock on the drum substantially across the entire periphery thereof, stitcher rollers engageable with stock on the drum at the end of the drum and rearwardly of said pressure applying rollers, a fluid pressure cylinder for applying pressure to said pressure rollers, a fluid pressure cylinder for applying pressure to said stitching rollers, a

source of air under pressure, a valve controlling the supply of air to said cylinders, and a regulating valve between each cylinder and said control valve controlling the flow of fluid to each cylinder.

'7. In combination with a tire building drum, a tread engaging pressure roller mounted for movement toward and away from the periphery of the drum, stitching rollers mounted for movement toward and away from the drum shoulders, a fluid pressure cylinder for moving said tread engaging roller toward the drum and applying pressure thereto, a second cylinder for moving said stitching rollers toward the drum and applying pressure thereto, means for simultaneously supplying fluid under pressure to said cylinders, and means for varying the rate of flow of fluid to each cylinder to vary the rate at which said rollers are moved toward the drum.

8. In combination with a tire building drum,

a tread engaging pressure roller mounted for movement toward and away from the periphery of the drum. stitching rollers mounted for movement toward and away from the drum shoulders, a fluid pressure cylinder for moving said tread engaging roller toward the drum and applying pressure thereto, a second cylinder for moving said stitching rollers toward the drum and applying pressure thereto, a pressure supply line,

' means for ma ntaining difierent pressures in two different portions of said line, means for simultaneously delivering fluid under pressure to said cylinders from either of said portions of said line, and means to vary the flow of fluid to each cylinder to regulate the rates at which the rollers ar moved toward the drum. I

9. In combination with a tire building drum having a bead positioning shoulder, a set of stitching rollers mounted for movement radially toward and away from the drum shoulder,,,each of said rollers having a toothed ply engaging flange and said rollers being arranged with their flanges progressively ofiset axially of the drum, a spider supporting said rollers, means for pivotally supporting said spider intermediate the ends thereof, and means for yieldably pressing said spider toward said drum.

10. In combination with a tire building drum having a bead positioning shoulder, a set of stitching rollers mounted for movement radially toward and away from the drum shoulder, each of said rollers having a toothed ply engaging flange and said rollers being arranged with their flanges progressively offset axially of the drum, a supporting shaft parallel to the axis of the drum, a lever supporting said shaft for vertical movement toward and away from the drum, a spider supporting said rollers, said spider having oppositely extending arms supporting the front and rear rollers of the set and a downwardly extending arm pivoted to said shaft, means for limiting the pivotal movement of the spider with respect to the shaft, and means for exerting a yielding upward pressure on said lever to press said rollers against stock on the drum.

11. In combination with a tire building drum, pressure applying rollers engageable with stock on the drum, stitcher rollers engageable with stock on the drum at the ends thereof, a pressure roller support and a stitcher roller support both movable toward and away from said drum, a cylinder for operating the pressure roller support, a second cylinder for operating the stitcher roller support, means for simultaneously applying fluid under pressure to said cylinders, and an adjustable valve for retarding the flow of fluid to said second cylinder to delay movement of the stitcher roller support toward the cylinder.

12. In combination with a tire building drum, pressure applying rollers engageable with stock on the drum, stitcher rollers engageable with stock on the drum at the ends thereof, a pressure roller support and a stitcher roller support both movable toward and away from said drum, a cylinder for operating the pressure roller support, a second cylinder for operating the stitcher roller support, means for simultaneously applying fluid under pressure to said cylinders, a fluid pressure line connected at one end to said second cylinder to oppose movement of the stitcher roller support toward the drum, spaced pressure reducing valves in said line to provide a reduced pressure at the end connected to said second cylinder and an intermediate pressure between the valves, and means including a manually operable valve for supplying either the intermediate pressure or the full line pressure to said cylinders to press said supports toward the drum.

13. In combination with a tire building drum, pressure applying rollers engageable with stock on the drum, stitcher rollers engageable with stock on the drum at the ends thereof, a pressure roller support and a stitcher roller support both movable toward and away from said drum, a cylinder for operating the pressure roller support, a second cylinder for operating the stitcher roller support, means for simultaneously applying fluid under pressure to said cylinders, a fluid pressure line connected at one end to said second cylinder to oppose movement of the stitcher roller support toward the drum, spaced pressure reducing valves in said line to provide a reduced pressure at the end connected to said second cylinder and an intermediate pressure between the valves, means including a manually operable valve for supplying either the intermediate pressure or the full line pressure to said cylinders to press said supports toward the drum, and a retarding valve between said manually operable valve and said second cylinder to cause the movement of the stitcher roller support to lag behind the pressure roller support.

14. In combination with a tire building drum, two circumferentially spaced sets of stock engaging rollers, a support for each set of rollers movable toward and away from the drum, a lever i'ulcrumed intermediate its ends, an actuating connection from the lever to each of said supports, said connections being upon opposite sides of the lever fulcrum and arranged to move both sup ports toward the drum up on movement of the lever in one direction about tis fulcrum, and means for actuating said lever.

15. In combination with a tire building drum, first and second shafts parallel with the drum and movable toward and away from circumferentially spaced portions of the drum, a central rigid transversely convex tread engaging roller on the first shaft, flexible deformable rollers on the first shaft and spaced from opposite ends of the tread roller, a pair of conical tread shoulder engaging roller-s on the second shaft circumferentially alined with the spaces between the rollers on the first shaft, and means for simultaneously pressing said rollers against stock on the drum.

16. In combination with a tire building drum, first and second shafts parallel with the drum and movable toward and away from circumferentially spaced portions of the drum, a central rigid transversely convex tread engaging roller on the first shaft, flexible deformable rollers on the first shaft and spaced from opposite ends of the tread roller, a pair of conical tread shoulder engaging rollers on the second shaft circumferentially alined with the spaces between the rollers on the first shaft, said conical rollers being movable axially on their shafts, means for limiting inward axial movements of the conical rollers, springs opposing outward axial movements of said conical rollers, and means for simultaneously pressing said rollers against stock on the drum.

17. In combination with a tire building drum, first and second shafts parallel with the drum and movable toward and away from circumferentially spaced portions of the drum, a central rigid transversely convex tread engaging roller on the first shaft, flexible deformable rollers on the first shaft and spaced from opposite ends of the tread roller, a pair of conical tread shoulder engaging rollers on the second shaft circumferentially alined with the spaces between the rollers on the first shaft, and means for applying pressure to said shafts to press said rollers simultaneously against stock on the drum and for maintaining a greater pressure on the first mentioned shaft.

WALTER J. BRETH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,283,337 Sikes Oct. 29, 1918- 1,465,177 Richter Aug. 14, 1923 1,834,559 Waner Dec. 1, 1931 1,966,541 Denmire July 17, 1934 1,970,780 Stevens Aug. 21, 1934 2,295,541 Breth Sept. 15, 1942 2,339,551 Stevens Jan. 18, 1944 2,342,951 Lyle Feb. 29, 1944 2,369,998 Bateman Feb. 20, 1945 2,374,391 Sternad et al. Apr. 24, 1945 2,381,379 Stevens Aug. 7, 1945 

